Serious question -- there appear to be common two ways of allocating scarce resources in situations like this: either through price, or through semi-random who-gets-through first (see also online ticket sales).
Why do people think the latter is "more fair"? Are there any interesting alternative methods of allocation that are equally lightweight?
More people have access to the second method. Many people would rather have a 25% chance of getting through and paying the lower price than not being able to afford a ticket at all.
I have no idea what unfortunate psychological characteristic of the human brain leads so many to oppose price gouging and markets, but here is some tangential discussion:
Why do people think the latter is "more fair"? Are there any interesting alternative methods of allocation that are equally lightweight?